Seriously, when we walked in Eric Cairns was already there. He's definitely tall! The only other players to show up were Andre Roy and Eric Bougenecki (sp? and definitely short!). My son was a bit bummed but he did have everyone sign his hat which has some other autographs on it already.

When we left,. we walked past the player's perking lot and Rob Scuderi was signing out of his Chevy tahoe.

Lastly, just after Scuderi left, we turned to leave and there was a guy in a black suit walking down the street on the other side (by the old hosital)...it turned out to be Noah Welch! Funny little note: he had a small tear in the back of his right sleeve, just below his shoulder. Guess the NHL paycheck hasn't kicked in yet!

We got Welch, K. Kolstov, and Jani Rita. Welch was really nice and talked to a lot of people. He showed up awhile before the others and kind of got swarmed, but it didn't seem to bother him. Cool to hear him talk about getting his 1st NHL goal. Koltsov looked scared, but he signed for everyone and I got a pic with him.

I agree it was a bit on the lame side. Free Yuengling and I scored a couple of chicken fingers, also. I guess they could only talk certain players into it?

Zenpen wrote:We got Welch, K. Kolstov, and Jani Rita. Welch was really nice and talked to a lot of people. He showed up awhile before the others and kind of got swarmed, but it didn't seem to bother him. Cool to hear him talk about getting his 1st NHL goal. Koltsov looked scared, but he signed for everyone and I got a pic with him.

I agree it was a bit on the lame side. Free Yuengling and I scored a couple of chicken fingers, also. I guess they could only talk certain players into it?

Where were you at? I was in Igloo West. We heard there was another one going on somewhere in the building. Koltsov was one of the cards we took to the game in case he showed up. My son would have been happier with that!

Tikkanen wrote:I'm still pissed I didn't get an invite to this. I've been a season ticket holder for several years...grrrrrrrrrr

I talked to the ladies at the customer service desk on Friday about this, and they said that they are taking it by sections for the meet and greet. I think they kind of piloted the whole thing on Sunday, and may have 1+ more sessions before the end of the season. I imagine the rest of the STH group will get the opportunity next season.

Tikkanen wrote:I'm still pissed I didn't get an invite to this. I've been a season ticket holder for several years...grrrrrrrrrr

I talked to the ladies at the customer service desk on Friday about this, and they said that they are taking it by sections for the meet and greet. I think they kind of piloted the whole thing on Sunday, and may have 1+ more sessions before the end of the season. I imagine the rest of the STH group will get the opportunity next season.

I was suprised at how small the affair was. I think there were 50-60 people at most and a good portion of them were kids.

Pitts wrote:I was suprised at how small the affair was. I think there were 50-60 people at most and a good portion of them were kids.

I would think that's a good thing. Smaller groups are better for that kind of stuff I think.

It was. You didn't feel rushed for autographs and actually had time to chat with the players. It was a truly casual gathering.

Andre Roy was very nice and soft spoken. Also, not nearly as big (muscular) as you think he would be. Bogunecki is very short...shorter than me, but is a true fire-plug build. Carins was okay, not quite as friendly, but cordial.

I said to Scuderi outside, this has to be the worst part of the job, and he said, no way, I love this. He had a woman in his vehicle who was looking out the passenger side window the whole time and looked very unhappy to be hungup like that!

Welch was checking messages the entire time he was signing. He looks very young, but was very nice to eveyone.

FallenHero96 wrote:Cairns has to be huge.... he looks like a beast on the ice, I can only imagine in person.

He was VERY tall. But, like ROY, not as large as you'd expect. Actually looked pretty "normal" to me. I'm pretty sure it's all the pads that make them look so "beastly".

lol ya i've worn hockey pads I know what they do, but he looks big as a person, not just because of the pads. Like the size of his wrists... they looked like tree stumps on camera after a fight once. I have never seen him in person though, if hes not that big must have just been my perception then.

FallenHero96 wrote:Cairns has to be huge.... he looks like a beast on the ice, I can only imagine in person.

He was VERY tall. But, like ROY, not as large as you'd expect. Actually looked pretty "normal" to me. I'm pretty sure it's all the pads that make them look so "beastly".

lol ya i've worn hockey pads I know what they do, but he looks big as a person, not just because of the pads. Like the size of his wrists... they looked like tree stumps on camera after a fight once. I have never seen him in person though, if hes not that big must have just been my perception then.

I shook his hand, they are huge. I'm talking his chest, girth, etc. He looked pretty normal for such a tall guy who looks like he does on the ice. I only came up to his chest in height!!!